Emergency shower system

ABSTRACT

An emergency shower system attaches to a water pipe behind a wall and a valve mounted to the pipe. A frame is mounted to the wall around the valve, and a panel connected to the frame for covering an opening in the wall. The panel has an opening, and a plate is mounted to the panel to close the panel opening. A handle is mounted to the plate. A linkage is pivotally connected to the plate and to the valve. Vertical movement of the handle and plate are translated to rotational movement by the linkage to operate the valve. The handle only moves vertically at a constant distance from the wall. An eye/face wash station may be included. The eye/face wash station includes a pull down tray with spray nozzles. The nozzles are connected to another valve which is opened by the rotation of the pull down tray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/325,359, filed Dec. 1, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/278,603, filed Apr. 4, 2006, which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/777,924, filed Feb.11, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,627, issued Aug. 1, 2006, the contentsof all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an emergency shower system and moreparticularly, to an emergency shower system that is easy to operate andto safely integrate into an appropriate environment, such as alaboratory, a school or a municipal, commercial or industrial facility.

2. Description of the Related Art

Emergency showers are often used in industry, laboratory and academicenvironments where researchers, students and workers may be exposed tohazardous materials and/or conditions.

It is important that such emergency showers be easily operated in anemergency situation, where for example, a user may not have use ofhis/her eyes. The showers must also operate effectively once activatedeven though they may be seldom used. Further, the shower mechanism mustbe designed with safety in mind so that there is little likelihood thatthe structural components of the shower will cause injury at any timeand, particularly, during usage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,721 illustrates an example of an existing emergencyshower. The patent discloses an emergency shower installed in a recessedarea in a wall behind which water pipes are located. A valve mounted tothe water pipes is operated by a pivoting handle. The installationcovers most but not all of the wall recess into which the shower controlmechanism is mounted. The handle is required to move along a path andthis necessitates a slot. This slot provides an opening into the recesswhere the handle mechanism operates and through which water may enter.This water may collect in the recess and behind the wall so that, over aperiod of time, the collected water may cause damage to the fascia andother structural components of the shower installation and, also,presents a potential for mildew and/or mold problems.

Furthermore, the slot disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,721 presents anopening in the front face of the device described there which invitesthe intentional or unintentional deposit of debris, particularly whenthe shower device is located in an open environment, such as thosepresented in a laboratory, a school or a municipal, commercial orindustrial facility and the like. Thus, over time, sufficient debris orextraneous objects may be introduced into the recess through the slotopening to prevent complete rotation of the operating handle and, thus,block effective operation of the emergency shower valve during anemergency situation.

Another drawback of a pivoting handle as described in U.S. Pat.5,768,721 is that by its nature the handle moves in an arc which iscontrary to current safety practices. Furthermore this arced motionvaries the distance that the handle extends outwardly from the adjacentwall. This outward movement may interfere with operation of the handleshould a stressed or panicked user not recognize that the handle willfirst move toward him/her and then away when the handle is rotated froma shower-off to a shower-on position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The difficulties encountered with previous devices have been overcome bythe present invention. What is described here is an emergency showersystem which is operable with a fluid delivery apparatus, a showerdispenser connected to the fluid delivery apparatus, a valve connectedto the fluid delivery apparatus for controlling the flow of fluidthrough the fluid delivery apparatus, the system including frame, apanel connected to the frame, the panel having an opening therein, aplate slidably mounted behind the panel for closing the opening in thepanel, a handle connected to the plate for moving the plate relative tothe covering panel, and a linkage connecting the plate to the valve foroperating the shower, the plate and panel covering the linkage andvalve.

In a preferred embodiment, the control valve is positioned behind a walland is accessible through an opening in the wall; the plate is mountedfor slidable movement in a substantially linear plane essentiallyparallel to the wall.

There are a number of advantages, features and objects achieved with thepresent invention which are believed not to be available in earlierrelated devices. For example, an object of the present invention is toprovide an emergency shower system that is advantageously easy tooperate and is safe in its environment after installation. Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide an emergency shower systemwith an operating handle that extends a minimal distance from anadjoining wall. A further advantage of the present invention is that theemergency shower system has no front facing opening or slot into whichwater can be introduced that could cause a potential for mildewformation over time.

Another advantage derived from the elimination of the front facingopening or slot in the emergency shower system of the present inventionis that no debris can be introduced though the covering panel whichcould cause interference with movement of the operating handle. In otherwords, the system mechanism is fully enclosed.

Other features and advantages of the present invention include theprovision of an emergency shower system which is simple, reliable andrelatively inexpensive.

A complete understanding of the present invention and other objects,advantages and features thereof will be gained from a consideration ofthe present specification which provides a written description of theinvention, and of the manner and process of making and using theinvention, set forth in such full, clear concise and exact terms as toenable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with whichit is most nearly connected, to make and use the same in compliance withTitle 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph). Furthermore, thefollowing description of preferred embodiments of the invention read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein representsexamples of the invention in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112(first paragraph), but the invention itself is defined only by theattached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of an installed emergencyshower system illustrating the positions of an operating handle in both“on” and “off” orientations.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a portion of theemergency shower system illustrated in FIG. 1 as it would appear topotential shower users.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, partially broken-away isometric view ofthe emergency shower system illustrating the shower system's operatingmechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation view of the operating handle on aplate of the emergency shower system shown in FIGS. 1-3 illustrating thelocations of the handle in a shower-off position (broken line) and in ashower-on position (solid line).

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation view of a linkage alignment when theemergency shower system is in the shower-off position.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic elevation view of the linkage alignment whenthe emergency shower system is in the shower-on position.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of an installed emergencyshower system with a combined eye/face wash station in an open position.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a portion of the combinedsystem shown in FIG. 7 with the eye/face wash station in a closedposition.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a portion of the combined system shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 illustrating the eye/face wash station of the combinedsystem in an open, operating position.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, exploded, isometric view of the combined systemshown in FIGS. 7-9.

DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is open to various modifications andalternative constructions, the preferred embodiments illustrating thebest mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their inventionare shown in the various figures of the drawing and will be describedherein in detail, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (firstparagraph). It is understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the particular embodiments, forms or exampleswhich are disclosed herein. To the contrary, the intention is to coverall modifications, equivalent structures and methods, and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section112 (second paragraph).

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an emergency shower system 10 is illustratedin a typical installation. The emergency shower system is connected to afluid delivery apparatus such as water pipes 12 mounted behind a wall 14with water flow being controlled by a valve 20. Water is dispersed froma shower head 16 mounted flush with a ceiling 18. The system includes aframe 22 in an opening 24 formed in the wall 14, a cover panel 26mounted to the frame 22, a plate 28 slidably mounted behind to the coverpanel 26, a shower operating handle 30 attached to the plate 28, and alinkage 32 connected to the plate 28 and to the valve 20 to translatelinear motion of the handle and the plate to rotating motion for thevalve. The plate has an inner surface 31 and an outer surface 33.

It is to be understood that the system may also include the valve andshower head. Usually the water pipes are a preexisting part of abuilding structure. However, the system may include an entireinstallation including water pipes, a wall and an opening formed in thewall.

The shower head 16 is shown flush with the ceiling 18 although it shouldbe recognized that within the scope of the present invention, the showerdispenser head 16 may extend outwardly from the wall 14 or extenddownwardly from the ceiling 18 if so desired. The shower head 16 isdirectly connected to the water pipes 12.

The pipes extend from a source 34, usually a potable water supply suchas a municipal water main, which is brought in from under a buildingstructure and then extended behind the wall 14 to connect to the showerhead. Beneath the shower head is a floor 36 which may have anarrangement for a drain (not shown).

The valve 20 is positioned behind the wall and is connected in line withthe pipes. The valve is operable to prevent the passage of water whenthe shower is in an “off” or “closed” mode and allows the passage ofwater when the shower is in an “on” or “open” mode. Mounted around thevalve and adjoining pipes is the frame 22 which is inserted into theopening 24 in the wall 14 and is attached to the wall by any suitablefasteners. The cover panel 26 is mounted to the frame 22 and mounted tothe panel is a pictograph 40 illustrating how the handle 30 is to beoperated. Beneath the pictograph is a rectangular opening 42 whichprovides access to the plate 28. The handle 30 allows a user to slidethe plate relative to the panel and thereby operate the shower system.

An important feature of the emergency shower system 10 is that there isno opening available to allow the introduction of water or debristhrough the wall opening which could cause mildew formation or couldinterfere with the effective functioning of the valve 20 or the linkage32. The frame 22, the panel 26 and the plate 28 effectively block allaccess through the wall opening. More particularly, there is no slot orother opening as in the above mentioned patent.

This construction overcomes the serious drawback presented by the handleslot, whereby water or other liquid could enter the recess and present amildew forming condition or an object or some other form of debris couldbe stuck into the slot and prevent operation of the emergency showerassembly. As may be best seen in FIG. 2, the present system is fullyenclosed and no openings are presented to a user or to a passing personwho would be beyond the outer surface 33 of the plate, i.e., someonepositioned in front of the system so that the system appears to thatperson as it is depicted in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the detail illustrated in FIG. 3, it is noted that theframe 22 is positioned in front of a portion of the pipes 12 as well asthe valve 20 and provides ready access to the valve. It is noted thatthe pipes and the valve may be offset and placed behind the walladjacent the frame and the wall opening, if desired. The frame 22includes a series of holes, such as the hole 50, for receivingfasteners, such as a screw 52, to allow the frame to be attached to thewall 14. Holes, such as the hole 54 in the frame and hole 56 in thepanel are provided to receive fasteners, such as a screw 58, to attachthe panel to the frame. Spacers, such as a spacer 60, provide room forthe sliding plate and act as plate guides.

The handle 30 may be attached to the plate 28 in any convenient fashion,such as with the use of fasteners (not shown).

The valve 20 may be of a standard ball type with a stem 80 projecting inan outwardly horizontal direction. A suitable valve is made by ConbracoIndustries, Inc. of Matthews, N.C. and sold under the APOLLO brand,Model 70-105-01.

Pivotally mounted to the plate 28 is the linkage 32. The linkageincludes a first or front link 82 and an L-shaped or rear link 84. Apair of openings 86, 88 are located at the end portions of the frontlink 82. The rear link 84 has a vertical arm portion 90 and a horizontalarm portion 92, each with an opening 94, 96 at end portions thereof. Thelower opening 88 of the front link 82 allows the front link to bepivotally connected to the plate, which also has an opening 98, with afastener 100. The upper opening 86 of the front link 82 allows the frontlink to be pivotally connected to the vertical arm portion 90 of therear link 84 with a fastener 102 through the opening 94. The horizontalarm portion 92 of the rear link 84 is mounted to the stem 80 of the ballvalve by having the stem inserted into the opening 96 and retained thereby a fastener 104. It may now be appreciated that vertical movement ofthe plate causes rotational movement of the ball valve stem by way ofthe linkage. In this way, a light force on the handle of the plate ismagnified by the linkage to rotate the valve stem.

In FIGS. 4-6, the operation of the shower is shown in more detail.Vertical movement of the handle from an upper position, shown in brokenline in FIG. 4, downwardly, as depicted by an arrow 110, to the lowerposition shown in solid line is sufficient movement by a shower user tocause the shower to go from “off” when the handle is in its upperposition to “on” when the handle is in its lower position.

When the handle is in its upper position, the links 82, 84 are showngenerally in the position illustrated in FIG. 5. In this position, thevalve stem 80 is disposed in a horizontal orientation. However, when thehandle and the plate are moved vertically downwardly, the fastener 100in the bottom portion of the front link and the bottom portion of theplate is pulled downwardly as depicted by an arrow 111, causing thefastener 102 in the upper portion of the front link to pivot thevertical arm portion 90 of the rear link 84. This causes the rear link84 to rotate clockwise as depicted by an arrow 112 about the connectionof the arm portion 92 and the valve stem 80. The vertical movement ofthe handle, which is approximately 4.85 inches, causes a rotationalmovement of the ball valve stem of approximately ninety degrees.

The ball valve is designed so that when the valve stem 80 ishorizontally oriented, the valve blocks or closes the pipes to thepassage of any water. However, when the valve stem is rotated, a passageis opened through the valve for the water in the pipes to flow to theshower head.

Manipulating the handle 30 is very convenient and requires little forceand movement to turn the shower to “on”. There is little friction in thelinkage system and the links are long enough to provide sufficienttorque to the valve stem 80 so that rotation is simple and easy. It isto be noted that the handle moves parallel to the panel and does notswing outwardly in an arc as is the situation with some shower devices.

The handle is sufficiently large to be easily gripped by a user andextends only about one and a half inches from the wall so that thehandle does not interfere with the normal operation of a laboratory ormanufacturing plant, such as when someone walks past the wall where theemergency shower system is installed. Hence, the emergency shower systemmay be mounted in a hallway. It is also noted that the handle andlinkage are simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive.

It is to be understood that a fluid other than water may flow throughthe pipes, or water may be mixed with chemicals, if desired.

In operation of the emergency shower system of the present invention, anindividual who, for example, has accidentally encountered an emergencysituation such as a hazardous substance spill or leak and the like,immediately goes to the emergency shower system installation and whilepositioned under the showerhead pulls the shower operating handledownwardly. This short, vertical, downward motion is translated by thelinkage to rotational motion so as to rotate the ball valve from aclosed position to an open position, thereby allowing water to flow fromthe source through the pipes to the showerhead. To cause the shower togo from “on” to “off”, a user merely lifts the handle back to itsoriginal, upper position.

The above specification describes in detail one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. In an alternative preferred embodiment, asillustrated in FIGS. 7-10, an optional eye/face wash section is combinedwith the shower apparatus to form a combined emergency shower system. Insuch an arrangement, the structure and operation of the shower portionof the system is essentially the same as the above described system andas illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. In the FIGS. 7-10 embodiment 136 there isan enlarged frame 120 in front of pipes 122 and a valve 124. A panel126, a plate 128, a handle 130, a linkage 132 and a pictograph 134 areconnected to the frame. Adjacent to the shower is an eye/face washstation 138. Included in the eye/face wash station is a pull down tray140, an operating handle 142, a pair of water nozzles 144, 146, a branchpipe 148, a second valve 150, a supply pipe 152, a hook 154 and anaccess panel 156.

In greater detail, the cover panel 126 of the shower station is mountedto the frame 120 by screw fasteners 158 on the right side of the system,and the optional eye/face wash station 138 is mounted to the frame forrotatable movement on the left side of the system. The supply pipe 152is connected to the valve 150 which is rotated from a closed position toan open position when the tray 140 is rotated from its up, foldedposition as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 to its down, operating positionshown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The branch pipe 148 extends off the main pipe122 to feed water to the eye/face wash station. The handle 142 isfastened to the front or underside of the tray to move the tray from its“up” vertical position to its “down” horizontal position. The handle 142of the eye/face wash station extends about one and a half inches fromthe tray, essentially the same distance as the handle 30 of the shower.Hence, there is minimal impediment to the area around the system.

Specifically, operation of the eye/face wash station of the emergencyshower system is activated by moving the fray from its up position toits down position. During this maneuver of rotating the trayapproximately ninety degrees, the valve 150, illustrated as a ballvalve, goes from a closed position to an open position where water isdelivered to the pair of nozzles 144, 146 which are ideally situated towash a user's eyes and face and thereby dilute and wash away hazardouschemicals. To turn the water off on the left side of the system, thefray is lifted from the horizontal, down position to the vertical, upposition during which the second valve moves from an open position to aclosed position.

The plate 128 of the shower system is attached to pivot a front link 160by a fastener 162 and the front link is pivotally attached to a rearlink 164 by a fastener 166. The rear link is attached to a valve stem168 by a fastener 170. Vertical movement of the plate 128 by a downwardpull of the handle 130, rotates the links and opens the valve 124. Thiscauses water to flow in the pipes 122 behind the wall 14 to a showerdispenser head 172 suspended below the ceiling 18.

The above specification describes in detail preferred embodiments of thepresent invention. Other examples, embodiments, modifications andvariations will, under both the literal claim language and the doctrineof equivalents, come within the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims. For example, whether the showerhead is located as shownor flush with the ceiling or the wall or in some other disposition isconsidered an equivalent as are different handle shapes or dimensions,or shapes and dimensions of the linkage. The type of valve used may bechanged to an equivalent structure. The fluid in the pipes may be water,a chemical or a mix of both. Still other alternatives will also beequivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire orintention here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine ofequivalents nor to limit or restrict the scope of the invention.

1. An emergency shower system to be connected to a fluid source, theflow of fluid being controlled by a valve in said system, said systemcomprising: a linkage adapted to be connected to said valve foroperating said valve, the linkage comprising a first arm adapted to beconnected to said valve for operating said valve, and a second armpivotally connected at one end to the first arm; and a plate having aninner surface and an outer surface, the plate connected to the other endof the second arm such that the plate is a predetermined distance fromthe valve and for moving said linkage for operating the valve whilemaintaining the predetermined distance of the plate from the valveduring movement.
 2. The system as claimed in claim 1 including: a handleconnected to said plate for moving said plate in a vertical direction;and wherein said handle extends away from said outer surface of theplate.
 3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate, the firstarm and the second arm move in respective substantially parallel planesfor operating the valve.